I realize my eyesight is not as it used to be, but when I saw an ebony-colored French bulldog, a white goldendoodle and an elegant black and white English setter in line at the checkout counter of the community library the other afternoon, I started to worry.

Some skeptics might remark that reading has really gone to the dogs anyway, and if they happened to visit the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library a few weeks ago, they’d be partially correct. Yes, man’s best friends and their owners/trainers made their inaugural appearance at our library as part of the BARK (Beach Animals Reading to Kids) Therapy Dogs outreach.

Walking through the library to the Children’s Reading Room, the dogs drew oohs and aahs from children and adults alike. Gentle, peaceful and healing vibes echoed from each canine participant. I’m certain this phenomenon has something to do with the Dog Star, Sirius, and the inherent spiritual curative properties of dogs. Yes, therapy dogs and companion dogs alike heal a number of human ills if you allow them to work their magic.

BARK, an all-volunteer program founded in 2007, encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Instead of feeling intimidated while reading in front of classmates, the novice reader can gain confidence from these nonjudgmental, calming animals.

BARK has 128 teams listening to kids in more than 90 schools and libraries in California. A UC Davis study in 2010, backed up by educator evaluative responses, revealed that reading-to-dogs programs have helped young students. A mere 15 to 20 minutes of reading to a therapy dog once a week for eight weeks produces a noticeable increase in reading skills, confidence and class participation, as reported by teachers and parents.

Individualized doggie blankets for student readers, certified doggie listeners and trainers set the wheels in motion for some serious tales told to tail-toting buddies.

The eyes said it all. Children’s librarian Melissa Dolby watched with an approving glint in her eyes as she witnessed the children being introduced to Ziggy (French bulldog), Jilly (goldendoodle) and Gracie (English setter). Anticipation with butterflies in the stomach reigned supreme for all observers. Whether this innovative program would click with the SJC kids would be known momentarily.

The children and parents held one another’s gaze, and their animal partners looked with love at the newest students reading to them. How could you not want to sit down and start to practice reading with the longing looks on the dogs’ faces? And so it happened. Book after book was read aloud with increasing confidence by the novice readers, who even got a congratulatory “well done” kiss from the doggie listeners.

Penny Chase, Stevie Sisneros and Candace Collins are the volunteer trainers of Gracie (12 years old), Ziggy (shy, age not disclosed) and Jilly (2 years old). Their backgrounds vary, but the love of seeing students excel in reading with the dogs is almost palpable. Children received either a photo trading card with the vital statistics of their doggie partner or a bookmark acknowledging that the student had read with a particular canine listener. Gracie’s special bookmark states: “Gracie is special and so am I. Together we’re a reading team.”

To watch the learning interactions take place is another of those community blessings you need to look for. Our library continues to reshape itself to offer unique programs for members of all ages. In this case, on behalf of our San Juan Capistrano children, I thank them for their collaborative educational efforts.

The Read to a Dog program will continue at the SJC Regional Library on Aug. 9 and 23. It starts in the Children’s Reading Room at 3 p.m.

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